By Aaron Earls Writer, Lifeway Christian Resources NASHVILLE — Compared to the beginning of 2021, more U.S. Protestant churches are gathering in person and more churchgoers are filling the pews. The return to pre-pandemic attendance levels has stalled, however, in recent months. The latest Lifeway Research study found, despite a new variant wave of COVID-19, 97 percent of U.S. Protestant churches met in person during January 2022, while 3 percent

By Jonathan Howe Baptist Press SARALAND, Ala. — Citing a growing desire to develop a strategy to “bridge our divides and bring about a Gospel-driven unity and reconciliation” and the need to lead as a “pastor rather than from the office of president,” SBC president Ed Litton announced on March 1 that he would not seek a second term as SBC president at the upcoming SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim,

By Brandon Elrod Baptist Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — State directors of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) and Send Relief, the compassion ministry arm for Southern Baptists, entered into a new working agreement when SBDR directors gathered for their annual roundtable on January 27 in Albuquerque, N.M. The SBDR state directors affirmed the measure without any dissenting votes. The new agreement was spurred on by the decision of the North American

By Brandon Porter Baptist Press LVIV, Ukraine — As the Russian invasion of Ukraine is underway, many Christians are wondering how they can help and how they can pray for those facing Europe’s first full-scale war in decades. “With the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine, we join all those in Eastern Europe in praying for peace,” International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood said. Chitwood says a right view of God

By Scott Barkley Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Executive Committee trustees approved two recommendations from the Committee on Convention Finances and Stewardship Development Feb. 22 to increase allocations up to $2 million each for legal fees and the ongoing investigation regarding claims of sexual abuse. Committee chair Archie Mason brought both recommendations, explaining that the amounts will come out of operating reserves generated from allocations from Cooperative Program funds to the